Proofing apparatus



F. AND P. B. STREICH.

PROOFING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I3. |918.

Paiemed Nov. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS- SHEET l.

F. AND P. B. STREICH.

PROOFING APPARATUS.

AAPPLlcATIoN FILED Aue.13.191s.

1,322,839. Patented Nov. 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W ATTORNEY F. AND P. B. STREICH.

PROOFING APPARATUS. APPLICATION PILED AUG. I3. ISIS.

1,322,839. Patented N ov. 25, 1919.

3 SHSETS-SHEET 3.

4 A ,111 KQ 1N VENTQRS:

TnaTTnn sTaTns raTsnT ersten., i

'FRANK stranieri AND PAUL B. sTREIoH, or JoLIE'r, tLLINoIs, AssIGNoRs ToTHE UNoN'WRAr-rme MACHINE COMPANY, or AJOLIET, ILLINos, A'CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

P-ROOFING APPARATUS. v

VSpecification of LettersIatent. Patented NOV. 25, 1919;

Application fusa Angustia, 191s. serial No. 249,646.

To all LU/0m 'it mayconccm .j y

Be it known rthat we, FRA-Nn Erinnert, and BAUL B. STRETCH, bothcitizensofthe United States, and both residents of Joliet, county of WilhandState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements l1nProofing Apparatus, of which the following is declared to be a full,clear, and exact description. n

rIhis invention relates to bakers automatic machinery, and moreparticularly to the prooling apparatus, and its principal object istoprovide an apparatus,automatic in operation, y for vtaking'care `of`lumps of dough after they have beenrounded up and before they aremolded into loaves. As 1s well known ,to those skilled vrin the art ofapparatus into which tlielumps of doughv are discharged from therounding up machine` and conveyed through a proofing chamber forsuiicient time to permit kthe dough tolrecuperate, after which the lumpsof dough are automaticalllyT discharged fromA the apparatus upon a belt,which conveys them to the molding machine,or, they are discharged upon atable from vWhiclrthey may be taken and molded by hand. @ther objectsand advantages will appear in the course of the following specificationand With all vof said objects and advantages. in view, this inventionconsists of the several novel featuresof construction, arrangement andcombination of parts hereinafter fully set fort-h and claimed. Y

The invention is clearly.illustratedin the drawings accompanying thisspecification, in which; v v

Figure 1 isa side elevatiompartly-broken aivay, of a proofing apparatusembodying a simple form of the Vpresent invention; Fig. 2 is a view,partly in plan andl partly in `rhorizontal section ofthe apparatus,`theV line section being-,indicated vat 2-2 inFig. l, andza certainfloursieve being omitted from the View; Fig. 3 isa 1view, partly in endelevation and partly ,in `verticalfcross section of-the apparatus, theline ofsection being indicated iat 3 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4

is a detail View, partly in end elevation and partly in rvertical crossl,section of the feeding.apparatus'the line of sectionbeing indicatedatl-ain Fig. l, and Fig. 5 is a view, partly in side elevation and partlyin vertical,longitudinal sectionof the feedingV apparatus, the lineof'section being indicatedl at'- in Figs. `2 and 4.

Referring tosaid drawings, which illus-4 trate a simple `embodiment ofthe present invention, the lreference characters 26, 26 designateupright frame members and 27, 27a. designate horizontal, lengthwise,extending, top and bottom side frame members which are secured to theupright members 26, 26a. l Other upright frame membersV 2S, .39 connectthe top and bottom fra-mel members 27, 27, and horizontal, crosswi'seextending framemembers 29, 80, 36 connect the side frame members 27,27a`at points along their length tomake a rigid and substantial frame-Workfor the apparatus. Other short, lengthwise extending horizontal frame.members 31, connect the upright members 26a, near their lower ends.

The frame members may beV constructed of Wood ormetal as is desired, butWe have here shown them as constructed of channel Y bars and `'l' bars,secured togetherat their intersecting ormeeting points by bolts or byangle irons, bolted or riveted to the frame members.v Vrflieuprightframe members 2.6, 26aV act as supports for one end of the structure andsupport the proong chamber (indicating by the reference A), at a placeadjacent theceiling of the room in which the apparatus is contained. InFig. l, a considerable portion of the upright part of the apparatus hasbeen broken away andthe ma,- jor portion or horizontal portion of theproofing chamber has been broken away, in order that the View may bemade as largeY aspo'ssible upon the sheet. A top or cover 31 is Vsecuredto the longitudinal frame members 27, and glazed doors or Windows 32 arehinged upon the framemembers 27, by hinges 83 and are provided on theirlowerends with locks or latches 34 Where-v b yV they Vmay be secured inplace upon thel frame. T he ends of the proofing chainber may be'closedby end Walls. Bottom platesor doors 35 `are hiugedly secured totransverse T bars 36. Conveniently the vertical Tbars 39, which aresecured to the" frame members v27,27a space the doors Vor 50 is a wormgear 60 which meshes with a windows apart and divide the proofingchamber into a plurality of panels. The sides of the upright portion ofthe apparatus are closed by plates or panels 40, 41, secured to thechannel bars by angle irons andare screwed or riveted to the plates andchannel bars. y Y n Extending through apparatus is an endless conveyerbelt 42, which may comprise a flexible belt 43, and dough carryingbuckets 44. The belt is trained around pulleys 45, 46, 461,47, 46", 47a,46C and 48 as illustrated in Fig. 1, where it will be seen that in theproofing chamber, the'conv'eycr is carried back and forth a number oftimes over the pulleys. The' pulleys aremounted upon transverselyextending shafts 49, 50 and 51, journaled in bearing boxes 52, 136certain of'which are secured to the frame members, 27, 28 and 31respectively, and others (136), being` adjustably. mounted on brackets112.

' Thebuckets 44 are arranged in pairs (see vwill be observed that thebuckets of each pair are rigidly connected together by the rods 53, eachpair forming to all intents and purposes, a unitary structure, supportedby tracks 59 while traveling between the pulleys in the proofingchamber. The conveyer forms the subject matter of a divisionalapplication iled byv us on Dec. 13, 1918; Serial No. 266,548, and it isfully described and illustrated in that application.

The conveyer may be driven by any suitable mechanism. Upon one end oftheshaft lworm pinion 61 fast upon a shaft 62, journaled in bearingbrackets 63, secured to one of the lower frame members 27a. Preferablythe worm gear and pinion are inclosed in the -housing 64, secured to oneof the frame members 27a. The shaft 62 is driven' from a shaft 65,journaled in bearing braak! mounted upon a bracket 71 at one end of theapparatus, and said motor may be connected to drivethe shaft 65 Vbysuitable gearing. Obviously the shaft 65 may be driven from any suitablesource of power. y

The feeding apparatus, for feeding lumps of dough to the buckets, issecured tothe n apparatus.

As shown, said feeding apparatus has two side walls 7 6-77 two end walls7 8, and an inclined bottom wall 79, extending from the side wall 76 tola point considerably below the bottom of lower edge of side wall 77, toleave a discharge opening 80'therebetween. A receiving opening 81, isformed in the top 74, and-along two of its sides are upwardly extendingmembers 82, 83, that act to prevent the lumps of dough fro-m beingthrown beyond the receiving opening 81. )Said opening is centrallydisposed with respect to Y the feeding receptacle and below said openingis a rock shaft 84 which is journaled in the side walls 7 6 7 7. Saidrock shaft supports a distributingdevice 85, which operates to deliverlumps of dough alternatively to the buckets on eachV side of theconveyer belt. The distributing device comprises two oppositelydisposed, radially vextending U shaped frame members 86, secured in hubs87, which are fast on the shaft`84, and a third radially extending Ushaped frame member' 88, secured in said hubs 87, and ex- 86. To thecross bars 89 90-of the frame members 86-88, are 5 secured exible webs91-92, which may be made of canvas or other like fabric, upon which thelumps of dough fall when delivered to the feeding mechanism. Said webs91-92 extend between the side walls 7 6, 77. Below the shaft 84 are twobarsl 93, which extend between the side walls 76, 77 and are securedthereto. Said bars 93 are located in position to'act as stopsfor thelfeed mechanism 85, thereby limiting its rocking movement in eitherdirection. Flaps, comprising strips of flexible material, such asVcanvas'or the like 94,

are secured to Vthe top 74 along the edges of opening 81, -andextendbetween the side walls 7 6, 7 7 and have weights in the form of` bars95, secured to their lower ends and said flaps, act as brakes orretarding devices for the distributing device as the luni'ps ofl doughfall vupon/the `webs 91, 92, and rock the distributing device, therebypreventing the delivery mechanism 85 from rebounding and delivering asecond lump of dough into iio 105 tending at right angles to framemembers 'the buckets to plass the lower end.

one and the same bucket. inclined boards 96 are secured upon theinclined bottom 7 9, and withthe inclined bottom 7 9, form two troughsor chutes 80,.below the discharge sides ofthe distributingdevice 35, andsaid troughs or chutes are inline with the path ofctravel with thebuckets, (see Fig. 3) ,and discharge the lumps of dough thereintoas willappear later on in the course of this specification.

Behind the dischargev opening 80 is a guard 97 which is secured to theframe meinbers 31. Said guard is in the formof a ,reinforced pla-te andextends vertically between the frame members 31. It isrcut away at itsmiddle portion1to form an opening through which the pulley rotates. Thelower'end 98 of the guard 97, is curved backward (as shown in Fig. 5),to permit Said guard act-s to prevent the lumps of dough from beingaccidentally thrown out ofthe buckets when discharged into the same fromthe feeding mechanism.

Above the feeding mechanismis a `flour sieve 99 which conveniently maybe supported from the yupright supporting members 26. 'A spring pressedstirrer (not shown) is provided in the sieve .and is rockedby means,operatedby the shaft 62. The means here shown for agitating the stirrercomprises a crank arm 104:, fast on one end of the stirrer, a crankwheel 105 fast on the shaft 62 and a link connection 106, connectingsaid crank arm and crank wheel. Rotation of the shaft 62 imparts arocking movement to the stirrery shaft and a conse quent rockingmovement of the stirrer.

Below.. the proofing chamber at a place adjacent the upright portion ofthe apparatus is a transversely extending conveyer belt 107, (seelligs.1, and Q), which is trained around rollers 10S, 109, ournaled in bearingboxes 110, 111. Oneof the bearing boxes 110 is Ysupported by thebracket112, and the other bearing boX 110 is'supported by a bar 113, secured tothe frame ofthe apparatus. Take up mechanismhas provided for the bearingboxes I111, whichtake up mechanism may comprise screws 114, mounted inyoke shaped supports 115 and threaded in the bearing boxes 111. Between.the bearing boxes 110 and yoke shaped supports 115, eX- tends al board107awhich lis secured thereto. Upon the shaft of the roller 108,- is a.pulley 103n which is driven from a pulley 108@b on the shaft 62 by abeltpulley 1080. the 'conveyer" belt 107, the bottom of 'the prooiingchamber is left open, and VVat this pointdmn'ping mechanism (not shown)is provided for tilting the buckets as they pass the conveyer beltv107to thereby discharge the lumps of dough upon the belt.

' The dumping VVmechanism `is not illustrated, but-itis fully shown and.described Above in bearingboxes carried by -a frame. member. f

137 secured to t-he upright frame members 20, andsaid rods 135 areconnectedtorotate in' unison by sprocketwheels 138 on the rods yand a.sprocket chain 139 trained around said sprocket wheels. A hand wheel1410, mounted upon one of `the rods 135. affords means for turning'therods to'inove the bearing boxes 136 lengthwiseV of the apparatus. VSaidbearing boxes 130 are guided to move between-the lower edges of the sideframe members 27, and the upper edges of the brackets 112. Said brackets112 are secured to the uppery end portions of the vertical Aframemembers 20 and-adjacent end portions of the longitudinal frame mem-Vbers 27a.

In the operation of the `machine, the rounding up vmachine delivers thelumps-of dough, oneat a time-to the feeding mechanism -of the apparatus.v'The `flour sieve above Vthe 'feeding mechanism continuously sprinklesflour uponthe distributing device.

T he rocking distributing device-35 'normally stands in an inclinedposition, either in. one shown in full line in Fig. 4 or in an inc-lineddirection complemental to the one illustrated. As -aluinp of dough fallsupon the flexible web92,ittilts the distributing Ydevice over in thedirection 'of the arrows (see Fig. and, at the same time rubs againstand vtorces outward the weighted retarding flap or curtain 911andlinally passes between the outer end of the distributing'ode-vice andadjacent `retarding flap, falling in'to thev trough 80a below, throughwl'iich `it rolls down and discharges into one of a pair of buckets,which at that ltime has reachedV a position illustrated by the lowermostbucket in Fig 5. The distributing` device S5 is'leflL standing with Vtheother web 91 in vposition to receive the neXt lump of dough and'todischarge it -into Athe other trough 80. The timing between therrounding up machine and proofing apparatus is such that when asubsequent lumpof dough isdeliv'eredl to the distributing device androllsdown the other trough, the pair ofzbuckets into which the firstlumps of dough was delivered, has moved upward until their upper `edgesare Hush with or immediately below the discharge end ofthe troughsnamely in position so that the-other bucket ofthe pair will receivealumpof dough. In this manner it is impossible for Jthe 'distributingdeviceto d eliver two lumps of dough into any one rounding up machine ,doesnot deliver a lumpof dough to the-distributing device in time, one ofthe buckets might pass the discharge troughs without being loaded.

As the buckets are filled they continue to move upward, the belt passingover the pulleys 46, 46', 47, 46, 47, 46 and 48, the rollers. of' thebuckets running upon the tracks and supporting the buckets as theytravel between the pulleys. It will be seen that in all cases thebuckets are carried in a suspended condition until they reach thedumping mechanism, whereupon the buckets are tilted upward and backwarddischargin their contents upon the conveyer belt 101, which carries themforward and discharges them upon a chute from which they are deliveredto the molding machine or to any other place as is desired.

The speed of the conveyer belt and consequent length of time that thelumps of dough are carried through the proofing chamber'inay beregulated by shifting the belt 69V along the coned pulleys 67-68. 'Ihreespeeds are provided for which allow the.

buckets to remain. in the proofing chamber from nine to fifteen minutes,or any other predetermined intervals.

rlhe proofing chamber is located atrthe topl of the apparatus in orderthat it may be suspended or supported nearer the ceiling of the bakeryso as to utilize the heat usuallypresent in bakeries. The doors orwindows 3'2, beingl hingedly supported, they may be opened to ventilatethe proofing chamber, or in case it becomes necessary to remove any lumpof dough that may have been accidentally dropped from a bucket.

The apparatus is continuous in operation and requires very litt-leattention, namely, the ordinary care and attention of an attendant tosee that it is in working order. It is entirely automatic in operation,receiving the raw lumps of dough, carrying them through the proofingchamber and delivering them to the discharge conveyer belt.

More or less variation is possible of the exact details of constructionshown and described. We desire, therefore, not tolimit ourselves to theexact form of construction shown and described, but intend in thefollowing claims to point out all of the Vinven-V y end and dischargetroughs and having two flexible webs, one or the other of whichalternately underlies the receiving opening and receives a lump of doughfalling through said opening, said distributing device being rocked fromside to side by vthe impactA and weight of the dough falling upon thewebs, stops limiting the rocking movement of the distributing device,and weighted flaps depending across the outer ends of said Adistributingdevice.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a feeding device comprising a housing having a receiving opening in itsupper end and two downwardly declined discharge troughs at its lowerend, a rocking distributing device interposed between the receivingopening and discharge lti-oughs'and arranged to discharge lumps ofdough, falling through said receiving` opening, alternately into eachdischarge trough, stops limiting the rocking movement of saiddistributing device andl weightedviaps engaging side edges of saiddistributing device and adapted to prevent rebounding of saiddistributing device when' acted upon by a lump of dough falling upon-it.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, p 1 a feeding devicecomprising a housing having a receiving openinf" in itsupper end and,

two downwardlyA declined discharge troughs, a rocking distributingdevice interposed between the receiving opening and discharge troughs,said distributing device having woven fabric webs between its upper endand its two side edges, and being arranged to be rocked back and forthby Vlumps of dough falling upon said webs, the lumps of dough beingthereby discharged alternately into the two troughs, and weightedwovenfabric flaps secured to the upper end of. device and depending acrossthe side edges of said distributing device and operating to preventrebounding thereof.

4. In an apparatus of the class described,

a feeding device comprising a housing having a vreceiving opening' inits upper end and two downwardly vdeclined discharge troughs at itslower end, a rocking distributing device interposed between thereceivingopening and discharge troughs and having two obliquely disposed wovenfabric `webs upon which lumps of dough fallwhen delivered through saidreceiving opening and weighted woven fabric flaps depending across theside edges of said distributing device and acting to prevent reboundingthereof.

5. In an kapparatus ofthe class described,

a Vfeeding device comprising a housing, a rey ceiving opening at theupper Vend thereof and two downwardly declined .discharge troughs at thelower end thereof, arocking distributing device interposed between. thereceiving ope-ning and discharge troughs, comprising a shaft `iournaledin said housing, two oppositely disposed frame members secured to saidshaft, a third raine'member secured to said shaft at right angles tofirst named frame members and two Woven fabric webs secured to the outersides of said frame members, transverse stripsarranged to limit themovement of said distributing device,

and two weighted woven fabric flaps de pending across the outer sideedges of said tlrst mentioned frame members, and adapted to preventrebounding of the distributing device, v

6. 1n a proofing apparatus, dough distributing mechanism having a singlereceiving opening and two discharge openings ar- -ranged side by side,and a rocking distributing device arranged between the receiving openingand the discharge openings and havi-ng two inclined sides upon whichlumps of dough fall and rock the distributing device from side to sideto discharge the dough alternately through the two discharge openings,and a traveling conveyer having buckets arranged side by side in pairs,arrangedY to travel past said discharge openings and receive the lumpsof dough therefrom.

7. In a proofing apparatus, dough distributing mechanism having a singlereceiving opening and two discharge openings arranged side by side, anda rockinig gravity operated distributing device arranged between thereceiving opening and the discharge openings and having two inclinedsides upon which lumps of dough fall and rock the distributing devicefrom side to side to discharge the dough alternately through the twodischarge openings, and a l traveling conveyer having buckets arranged'side by side in pairs, arranged to travel past said discharge openingsand receive the lumps 'of dough therefrom.

8. In a'proonng apparatus, dough distributing mechanism having a singlereceiv-` ing opening and two discharge openings'arranged side by side,and a rocking distributing device arranged between the receivingVopening andthe discharge openings and l.

` having two inclined sides upon which lumps Illinois, this 30th day ofJuly A. D.'1918,

and PAUL B. STREICH, has executed the above at Chicago, Cook county,Illinois, this 6th day of Aug. A. D. 1918.

FRANK ySTREICH. PAUL B. STREICH.

